
Ronald MacNiven
Creator, Performer (individual)
Ronnie MacNiven is one of Scotland's most versatile musicians, working across a diverse range of fields and genres. After leaving school he studied trombone and composition at The Royal Academy of Music in London. Upon graduating from there he held several positions with ensembles around the world including The National Chamber Orchestra of South Africa and The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, where he had the privilege of working alongside Ingrid Jensen, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Gerard Presencer, Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler.
Second Prize in the Maggini String Quartet Composers’ Competition and performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival were followed up by Third Place in The 2 Agosto Prize in Bologna, Italy. He returned to higher education in 2013, graduating with an MMus in composition from The University of Glasgow a year later.
Recent performances have included Crescent City Soliloquy, composed in 2010 for Duo X, and Tanabata, performed by The Red Note Ensemble at The Sound Festival in Aberdeen, 2015. His string octet, entitled Oirthir Gàidheal, derives from the Gaelic meaning ‘Coast of the Gaels.’ Another notable piece in his output, Cassiopeaia Dances, was written for the unorthodox combination of Oboe, French Horn and Harpsichord as part of the centenary commemorations of Debussy’s death in 2018, and was performed in Manchester and Glasgow. La Mort Parfumée, composed for flute quartet, was premiered in Kirkcaldy in April 2019. His most recent piece, Eástre: Hymn to the Sun for four trombones received special mention in the 2020 BTS Composers' Competition.
Among his interests outside music he lists detective fiction, philately and Sudoku puzzles.
Residence/Main Office Glasgow
Contact email
Works
Title | Year composed | Instrumentation Genre |
---|---|---|
Japonica | 2015 | Ensemble (no conductor) |
Events
Date | Title | Venue |
9 Feb 2022, 8 p.m. | The Night With... New Antonine Brass Quintet | Black Box, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK |
10 Feb 2022, 8 p.m. | The Night With... New Antonine Brass Quintet | Drygate, Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
11 Feb 2022, 8 p.m. | The Night With... New Antonine Brass Quintet | Summerhall, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
12 Feb 2022, 8 p.m. | The Night With... New Antonine Brass Quintet | Belmont Film House, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK |
Upcoming events
- 03 Jun 2022, 11:00
[Covfefe: online coffee chat for composers & musicians] - 05 Jun 2022, 10:00
[Open Score Club - Gardenscape] - 08 Jun 2022, 14:30
[A CELEBRATION OF MARTYN BRABBINS – EMERGING COMPOSERS] - 08 Jun 2022, 20:00
[Sound Thought x GLEAM Concert - Darren Gallacher & Failed System Test] - 11 Jun 2022, 19:30
[Hebrides Ensemble x Drake Music Scotland: Hidden Door 2022]
Recent updates
Works
Events
- World premiere recording of "The Present", by James MacMillan
- New music listening club
- Sound Thought x GLEAM Concert - Darren Gallacher & Failed System Test
Projects
- Figurenotes Software and Resource Hub Lunch
- Album 200m: Ambient Music in a 9v World by casiomtb released
- New Recording: 'Ursa Minor' - chamber music of Stuart MacRae